Locking wrench



w. l. TRUBY 2,385,660

LOCKING WRENCH 'sept Az5, 194s.

Filed Dec, 11, 1943 AT TRNE YS -of the face of the jaw 2.

Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING WRENCH William I. Truby, clevelananeights, ohio Application December 11, 1943, Serial N o. 513,839 Y Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches of the type having relatively slidable jaw carrying members in which one of the members has a rack and the other a rotatable worm meshing With the rackV by means of which the jaws may be adjusted.

The present invention has for its objectto provide a means for shifting the actuating worm laterally of its axis from an operating position Where it may be turned to adjust the spacing of the wrench jaw to a locking position where it presses laterally against the rack, is frictionally locked against turning movements and clamps the rack in its guideway so as to rigidly hold the jaws against relativearocking movements.

With the above and other objects in view the invention maybe said to comprise the -wrench illustrated in the accompanying drawing hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention per- Reference should be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification in Iwhich;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the Wrench showing the worm in operating position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking toward a side edge of the wrench;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wrench with portion broken away to show the operating elements in section, the worm `being shown in this view in locking engagement with the rack,

In the accompanying drawing the device of the present invention is shown applied to a wrench that has a head I provided with an integral jaw 2 and a guide channel 3 extending transversely The guide channel 3 has an undercut guide portion 4 and the'head I is provided with a rectangular opening 5, the.top edge of -which overlaps the bottom portion of the guide channel. The opening 5 has its top and bottom portions parallel with the guide channel 3 and its side edges parallel with a flat face 6 on the edge of thehead I to which the guide channel 3 extends.

A second jaw carrying member is provided which comprises a jaw 'l and a guiding portion Y screwed into an internally threaded bore (3.111

comprising an elongated web V8 centrally disposed the head at the inner sideof the opening 5. The shaft II is cylindrical outwardly of its threaded inner end I2 and the outer end thereof nts within a bore M in the head I outwardly of the opening 5, the outervend of the shaft II being substantially flush with Vthe flat edge 6 of .the head when it is secured in place.

The shaft II has an axial bore I5 extending inwardly from its outer endA and is provided with a radial opening I6 at the inner end of the bore I5. At its inner end the shaft II ,is provided with a lateral openingI'l that is adapted `to receivethe end of the lock screw I8 that secures the shaft II in place with its lateral opening I'I facing therack I0..

A worm I9 is rotatably mounted on the shaft II within the opening 5 .and this Worm is of a length slightly less than the width of the opening and may be yieldably held against onewall of the opening by means of a spring ,20. 1 `',Iheworm.

I9 fits `loosely on the shaft I I so that ,it may havea limited `lateral movement withwrespe'ct to the shaft, and means is yprovided for shifting theaworm I9 laterally with respect to the shaft I I into clamping engagementwiththe `rack I0 so as to' lock the Worm against rotation and clamp the guide portion 9 ofthe movable jaw carrying member in .theundercut portion 4 of the guide vchannel so that the jaw 'I is rigidly held against pivotal movements with respect to the` Sufficient lateral pressure is applied to v,the worm to frictionally lock the worm against rotation and to take `up any play between the sliding jawcarrying mem-bers so that the jaws are rigidly held against relative movements. A radial thrust is exerted upon the interior of the worm I9 at its inner end by meansof a bearing -ball 2| thatis mounted in the radial opening I6 of the shaft II. `'I'his ball, as shown in Fig. l, normally occupies a position wholly within the periphery of the shaft Il and is movable radially of theshaft II against the interior of the vworm I9 to press the worm against the rack IIJ as shown in Fig. 3. The bore of the Worm I9 is preferably tapered toward its outer end allowing suilicient lateral play at the inner end thereof to enable the Worm to tilt suliiciently, to tightly clamp the rack I0 and jaw 'I as shown in Fig. 3. Radial l movementris imparted to the ball 2|y by means of a member movable axially in the bore l5 of the shaft such as a small ball 22. 22 is engaged bythe inner end of a screw 23 that is screwed into an internally threaded outer por- The ball the ball 2| to occupy a position entirely within the periphery of the shaft When the screw Y 2| is moved inwardly, the ball 22 is forced toV the position shown in Fig. 3 and by its wedging f engagement with' the ball 2| presses theysame outwardly ag-ainst the interior ofthe'worm I9 mounted in said'opening and movable from'a crowding the worm against the rack ID to lock Y the worm and clampthe sliding jaw. The balls 2| and 22 are standard bearing balls of sizes commonly used in ball bearings and either Vor Ybothrballs may be easily replaced if damaged.

YIn .order to prevent `removal of the'screw 23` and to limit the extent of axial movement there- Y of, a guard 26 is detachably secured to the edge Y 6 of the head by means of a screw 2`|`and is provided with a projecting lip 2.8 that overhangs the outerface of the head 25 to limit the outward movement of the screw., Y e

By the use of hardened steel balls for applying alateral thrust to the worm i9, a very effectiveV clamping pressure may bev applied by means of the screw 23, and since only a slight movere r mentv in said shaft and engageable with said radially movable member to press the same outwardly against the interior of said worm.

3. A wrench comprising a jaw carrying member having a rack and guide portions parallel to the rack, a second j-aw carrying member having Y a guideway to receive the guide portions of the nrst member, a shaft mounted in said second member parallel to said guideway.said shaft having anfaxial bore and a lateral'ropening to said bore, means for securing said shaft against rotation with said opening facing said guideway,

a worm loosely and rotatably mounted upon the 'portion of said shaft in which said opening is located and meshing with said rack, a ball position in which it is entirely within the'periphof said bore and engageable 'with said .ball to. move the same radially outwardly against the 5 .interior of said worm.`

ment of thescrew is required to shift the worm A from `its, operatingV to clamping position, the

' wrench may be quickly and easily locked in any` adjustment and the worm may be quickly-released to permit itrto be turned to change the` adjustment when desired.V

4, A wrench comprising a jawcarrying mem.-v ber having a rack and guide portions parallel to the rack, la second jaw carrying member having a guideway to receive the guide portions of the first member, a shaft mounted in said'second member parallel to said guideway, said shaft having-an axial bore and a lateral opening to said bore, means for securing said shaft against rotation with said opening facing said guideway, a`

- worm loosely and rotatably mounted .upon the It is to be understood that variations andrm'odi-" cations of the specific device herein shown and described for purposes of, illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe .inventionfV v What I claim is: .Y Y Y f V1. 'A wrench comprising a jaw carrying member having a rack and guide'portions. parallel to the rack,.a second jaw carrying member` having al guidewayv to receive the guide portions of the first member, a shaft mounted in xed posi` tion in said second member parallel to said guideway and having Aan lopening facing said guideway.

. a worm loosely andY rotatably mounted on said shaft and meshing with saidV rack, a member` mounted in said shaft within said worm for radial movement in said opening toward saidrack, and means for actuating said member to engage the same with vthe interior of the worm and press said worm against said rack.

2.V A wrench comprising arjaw carrying memportion of said shaft in which said opening is located and meshing with said rack,A a ball mounted in said opening and movable from a position in which it is entirely within the peripher-yl of,l the shaft and partially-'Within said bore to a position in which-it extends beyond theA periphery of said shaft and presses said worm;

against said rack, a second ball movable axially inV said bore and engagingY the first ball, and a screw for pressing said second ball axially of said shaft. Y 5. A wrench havingak headiprovided with a jaw, an undercut guide channel extending transversely of the jaw, and a transverse'opening intersecting the bottom of said channel, a movable member having a jaw and a guide portion-slidable in Ysaid channel and having rack teeth in the side thereof facing the bottom of the channel, a shaft mounted in said head and extending across said opening parallel with said guideway, said shaft having an axialfbore and a lateral opening to said bore, means for securing said shaft against rotation with its lateral opening in theY opening of the head and facing-said rack, arworm rotatably and loosely mounted on said shaft within the opening of the head, a ball mounted for radial movement in the lateral opening of the shaft from a position entirely within the shaft to a position bearing against the interior ofthe worm, and means for applying radial pressure to said ball to press said wor into locking engagement with .said rack compris ing an axially movable screw extending into th bore of said shaft.V y Y l WILLIAM I. IRUBY.

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